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Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to inform the readers China’s demographic risk, which will negatively impact China’s economic growth and fixed capital market. The current market may not fully reflect China’s underlying demographic risk. This article explains and visualizes China’s demographic risk and its impact on China’s economic growth. Also, this article expresses an opinion about the investment perspectives of securities, which may be exposed to China's demographic risk in a long-term horizon.

What Was Wrong with The Economist’s Forecast?

However, China’s GDP would not exceed the U.S.’ by next year. Currently, the U.S.’ GDP is $18.6 trillion and China’s is $11.2 trillion. What was wrong with The Economist’s forecast? The yuan has depreciated against dollar, according to CIA’s The Word Factbook, from 2013 to 2017 (See below chart. Source: The World Factbook). Also, China’s GDP growth rate has been below 7.0% since 2015.

(On the other hand, The Economist’s forecast would be reasonable. The World Factbook reports China’s GDP in purchasing power parity in 2017 was $23.1 trillion, which surpassed the US’s $19.4 trillion in 2017. The World Factbook reports that “…because China’s exchange rate is determined by fiat rather than by market forces, the official exchange rate measure of GDP is not an accurate measure of China’s output; GDP at the official exchange rate substantially understates the actual level of China’s output vis-à-vis the rest of the world; in China’s situation, GDP at purchasing power parity provides the best measure for comparing output across countries.” In other words, China’s real purchasing power to buy goods and services has already surpassed the U.S.’)

Will China’s GDP Surpass the U.S.’ GDP by 2028?

Bloomberg used 2% for the U.S.’ GDP growth rate and 6.5% for China’s GDP growth rate in its forecast. China’s GDP growth rate will decrease gradually because of its demographic problem. Therefore, China’s GDP would not surpass the U.S.’ by 2028.

China’s Demographic Problem and Total Dependency Ratio

China’s biggest problem is its demographic shift. Total Dependency Ratio, which represents the number of dependents per 100 working-age population aged 19-59, is rising in China (See below formula and chart).

(Please note that all total dependency ratios in this article used above formula.)

The above chart shows the total dependency ratio of China from 1950 to 2050.

China’s highest total dependency ratio was 139.7, which means 100 people aged 20 to 59 supported 139.7 dependents aged 0 to 19, and 60 and older in 1969. The lowest ratio was 60.8 in 2011. It will reach 116.6 by 2050. China’s total number of dependents will increase from 517 million in 2011 to 734 million in 2050. The total dependency ratio will increase by 91.8% from 2011 to 2050.

Diminishing Margin

China is facing demographic crisis. Currently, China’s retirement age is 60 years old. From 2021 to 2036, 346 million working-age population will retire. At the same period, only 249 million younger generation workers will replace the 346 million retirees (See below chart). China’s workforce will decrease by 100 million between 2021 and 2036. The shrinkage of workforce will cause wage appreciation, which will decrease the margin for manufacturers and exporters. The low-cost huge workforce was China’s competitive advantage, which is fading away.

Medical and Pension Expenses

Medical and pension expenses will rise rapidly to support the retirees. About 844 million people will retire between 2011 and 2050. (See below chart)

In 2017, there were 556 million dependents and 853 million working-age population in China. In 2028, there would be 650 million dependents and 791 million working-age population in China. It is clear that China’s demographic shift will depress its economic growth. When China's total dependency ratio was down sloping from 1970 to 2010, the huge population was a blessing for its economic growth. However, China’s huge population would turn to a curse when the total dependency ratio increases. 844 million people would retire from 2011 to 2050 and China has to support them.

There is no free lunch because someone has to pay for it. China’s retirees have helped the economic growth of China and the world. They deserve to enjoy their retirement. China, either government or household, has to support and pay for the medical and pension expenses for the retirees. It means China must sacrifice its economic growth to support its retirees.

Total dependency ratio of China and Japan

The below chart compares China’s and Japan’s total dependency ratio.

Japan’s highest total dependency ratio in above chart was 114.0 in 1950. Japan's lowest point was 75.6 in 1972. Then, Japan’s dependency ratio had been flattened and Japan’s GDP growth rate had declined from 1970 to 2005. Then, its total dependency ratio would gradually increase from 2005 to 2050. China’s dependency ratio is following Japan’s pattern, except the flattened period. China’s one-child policy would cause the differences between China and Japan. Because China does not have any long-term total dependency ratio flattened period, the impact of demographic shift on its economic growth would be more severe than Japan.

Why Total Dependency Ratio Matters

High total dependency ratio generally causes high dependent-related expenses and low economic growth for a society.

High total dependency ratio generally causes the wage hike, which would diminish the margins.

Dependents generally cannot support the housing market. They generally cannot afford expensive housings. They would not buy a real estate, but would sell what they own if they cannot afford. Therefore, high total dependency ratio generally causes a negative impact on a housing market.

Export Driven and Fixed Capital Investment Driven Economic Model

There are two similar characteristics between China’s economic growth model and Japan’s model; export driven and fixed capital investment driven economy. Japan’s economy had grown rapidly from the post-war period to 1970s. Japan’s decreasing dependency ratio was a competitive advantage from 1950 to 1970. Japan had two main economic growth engines; exports and fixed capital investments. Japan had competitive advantage in producing goods in lower prices with a high quality. Japan also had heavily invested in fixed capital, which includes constructing houses, apartments, and infrastructures. Housing prices had increased rapidly as Japan heavily invested in fixed capital so that its GDP had grown quickly. However, Japan’s “developing country catch up period” had expired in 1970s. Japan's fixed capital formation percentage of GDP has decreased as its total dependency ratio had flattened and increased (See below chart). Those two lines on the below chart are inversely related. Japan's highest fixed capital formation percentage of GDP was 37.1% in 1970. Japan could not afford its fixed capital investments because of its demographic shift. Japan’s housing market bubble burst in 1992.

Japan’s GDP growth rate has decreased as its fixed capital formation percentage of GDP has decreased (See below chart). Those two lines on the below chart are correlated.

China: Winter is coming

China’s total dependency ratio has gradually decreased and fixed capital formation percentage of GDP has gradually increased from 1968 to 2010 (See below chart). Those two lines on the below chart are inversely related.

China’s GDP growth rate has increased as its fixed capital formation percentage of GDP has increased from 1962 to 2008. (See below chart). Those two lines are correlated. In 2008, China’s GDP growth rate has decreased even though its fixed capital formation percentage of GDP has increased. It was an extraordinary event in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Chinese government implemented a stimulus package, which increased its fixed capital investments spending in 2008. China’s highest fixed capital formation percentage of GDP was 45.5% in 2013. China's 45.5% is much higher than Japan's highest fixed capital formation percentage, which comprised 37.1% of its total GDP in 1970. China's extremely high fixed capital investment percentage, which comprises more than 40% of total GDP, is not sustainable.

China’s problem is clear. Its total dependency ratio has increased since 2012 and it will gradually increase. China's current fixed capital formation percentage of GDP is not sustainable. The cost of medical and pension expenses for the retirees would increase rapidly. The wages will rise and the margin will diminish. Fixed capital market would be depressed. China has to sacrifice its fixed capital investments and economic growth. China’s debt would increase rapidly to cover its dependent-related expenses and to sustain its economic growth. There is no free lunch.

Forecast

The below chart represents the forecast of China’s fixed capital formation percentage of GDP from 2018 to 2050. Total dependency ratio data has been derived from United Nations forecast. Based on the inverse relationship between the fixed capital formation percentage of GDP line and the total dependency ratio line, the forecast was created.

The below chart represents the forecast of China’s GDP growth rate from 2018 to 2050. Based on the correlative relationship between the GDP growth rate line and the fixed capital formation percentage of GDP, the forecast was created.

(Please note that the forecasts are mainly based on the relationship among demographic and economic data explained in this article. Other factors or events would affect China’s GDP growth rates.)

Solution:

A low-cost health care and pension system is the key for China. China has one of the most centralized government, which could directly control the cost of health care and pension system. China would be able to build a unique low-cost health care and pension system if China reduces the investments in fixed capital and rearrange more investments for developing a low-cost health care and retirement system. As of 2018, China’s total dependency ratio is about 66.6, which is still relatively low. China may have 5 to 7 years to prepare for the coming winter when its total dependency ratio hit 80.1 in 2027. Right now is the time to prepare for the coming winter.

Other Negative Global Environments to China:

Trump Administration’s Policy toward China

Given the demographic problem of China, other negative global environments would affect China’s economy. Trump’s administration’s view toward China would have changed from “partner” to “competitor.” America has pushed China on North Korea issue. America would impose tariffs on China imports. Next American president election will be held in 2019. If Trump wins, he will be president until 2024 and China would struggle with Trump administration until 2024.

Global Interest Rate Trend

The Federal Reserve, the unofficial world’s central bank, has gradually increased its interest rate since 2015. The European Central Bank will follow the trend soon. Rising interest rate trend would bring another Tequila Effect or a crisis in emerging markets in 5 to 10 years. It is inevitable that China’s debt will gradually and rapidly increase over the next century to sustain its economic growth and afford dependent-related expense. Rising interest rate environment would give another pressure to China’s economic growth.

China’s Foreign Relationship

China is surrounded by three strong competitors: the U.S., Japan, and India. China is engaged in territorial disputes with its neighboring countries: Japan, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan. China’s defense budget has gradually increased in order to protect its interests. China’s rising defense budget would give another pressure to its economic growth.

Conclusion:

Because of China’s demographic shift, China’s GDP growth rate and fixed capital formation percentage of GDP will gradually decrease until 2050. The medical and pension expenses will increase, wages will rise, margin will diminish, and fixed capital market would be depressed. I would avoid investing in China’s real estate sector in a long-term horizon. Please reconsider your position on China-related index funds, mutual funds, ETFs, or securities, if you believe you were too optimistic on China’s future economic growth.

If you have invested in these securities, please reconsider your position:

This article is informative use only. This article represents my personal opinion. Each investor's buy, sell, or hold decision is based on one's risk tolerance, time horizon, and investment strategy. My personal opinion will not fit each reader's current investment strategy.

Final Notes:

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